Trying to decide on what to do. I have a 2000 landcruiser with 220k on it and in near perfect mechanical shape. Issues are some body rust. I have bubbling around the front windshield and left front fender. Also the upper hatch near the license plate lights is going to push through soon. I can still get about 8k for it as is. I do love driving it and the way it handles. The toyota dealer where I work has a 2005 sequoia limited with 85k on it. 1 owner and up to date with service. I can get it for about 11k will I be making a mistake moving to this vehicle. I see it has more horsepower and is rated 3 mpg higher than my landcruiser. A similar landcruiser in a 2005 and up would run me well over 20k. Thoughts or opinions???
my 2000 landcruiser or 2005 sequoia
- Thread starter TTO5
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I say drive your rust bucket until it falls apart.
Seriously, what are you trying to do? Do you need the space of a sequoia? You could spend $10k and a $500 round trip plane ticket and buy a rust free cruiser I would think. I'm not too impressed with Sequoias, remind me of a transport van, but if that's what you need, go for it. You could always buy it, drive it for a year and sell it if you don't like it for no loss likely.
Seriously, what are you trying to do? Do you need the space of a sequoia? You could spend $10k and a $500 round trip plane ticket and buy a rust free cruiser I would think. I'm not too impressed with Sequoias, remind me of a transport van, but if that's what you need, go for it. You could always buy it, drive it for a year and sell it if you don't like it for no loss likely.
Have you driven the Sequoia? Take it for a spin and see what you think. Is your family expanding, do you need more room? I'm not sure you'll ever recoup the 3 mpg savings you'd get in the Seqouia, not when it's roughly 4k more with taxes. Plus it's probably more like 1-1.5 mpg better.
A Sequoia with 85k while still a very reliable vehicle is not an LC with 85k. I'd say your spending 4k for something different, not better. Unless of course you need more room.
A Sequoia with 85k while still a very reliable vehicle is not an LC with 85k. I'd say your spending 4k for something different, not better. Unless of course you need more room.
Dood!! You are a service manager at an east coast Toyota dealership. Connect the dots: how many LCs do you see on any given days and how many Sequoias?
Look at your RO history. That will tell you everything you need to know.
Look at your RO history. That will tell you everything you need to know.
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I guess you guys are right. I am just getting a little worried with the rust bubbling coming up. Looks pretty bad around the windshield and I suspect it will punch through before the year is up. Then what will I do? Also the rear upper hatch is looking quite nasty. That will be caving in soon. I guess I was thinking to sell it before everything starts popping holes. The one thing the sequoia has going for it is I have never seen one with body rust. I know about the frame rust issues and obviously toyota stepped it up with recaall for frame replacements but I just don't want to be shelling out thousands on a 220k mile vehicle to get the rust fixed (and we all know it will keep coming back) maybe I just need to drive the sequioa for a day to get a feel for it. Who knows I may hate it.
What if you just buy a used tailgate ? Should be too hard to find a good one in your color. I bought one for my 4Runner, glass and all, shipping from California included, for $800.
Dood!! You are a service manager at an east coast Toyota dealership. Connect the dots: how many LCs do you see on any given days and how many Sequoias?
Look at your RO history. That will tell you everything you need to know.
I disagree. How many of each come in for service cannot be used for the basis of making this decision. I am sure being a service manager for a dealer he already knows this. There are roughly (depending on the year) 30,000 to 60,000 Sequoias sold to 1,500 to 5,000 Land Cruisers. You will see way more Sequoias than Cruisers. Also you have retention of dealer service customers after the warranty period expires. Although I have to say this is something Toyota and Honda do a much better job at than most manufactures, due to customer loyalty. Retention for a dealer after warranty used to be around 20 percent. With prepaid maintance plans such as Toyota Care dealers have managed to increase that numer to closer to 50 percent. After five years that retention falls significantly back to the aftermarket.
That being said, For what it's worth in my opinion the Sequoia is a pretty dam good truck (its no Land Cruiser though) and will still be a reliable vehicle. If my Land Cruiser was at that point with miles and RUST, I would probably sell it if I could still maintain some return on investment and look for either a lower mile rust free one (first choice) or find something to replace it until I could afford an LC. If return on my original investment was already tanked, I say drive it till the wheels fall off. Lol
I guess return on investment was not a good way to put it, since its a loss no matter what. My point is if you can cut your losses by selling it before it worthless, it would be a smart move to reinvest what money can be salvaged into a cleaner truck. If its rusted to the point it's near worthless already you have nothing to lose by continuing to drive it. My .02.
Considering that 06-07 100s are still in the high 20s for a clean one with low miles and the cheapest 200 I've ever seen was still $42k with 80k miles on it, I think it's highly doubtful 200s will be in the high 20s in 1-2 years IMO.
TTO5, didn't you get this truck for $500? Keep it till it dies, like others have suggested if the rust issues bother you, just buy a replacement tailgate when one comes up for purchase.
There are lots of companies that can supply replacement sheetmetal from parted out Land Cruisers. 10 seconds on the old interweb found these guys:http://www.cruiserparts.net/parts/uzj100.htm
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I had this same issue a year ago with a 2000 LC. Bad windshield install lead to a ton of rust under the gasket around the windshield frame. I had repaired the rear hatch about six years earlier, knew it was temporary, and it was coming back...quickly, and badly. Then found rust on the front inside of both rear wheel wells. 214K miles. Mechanically perfect. I had deferred doing the TB and WP service, while I debated keeping it. In the meantime both the climate control and stereo head units died, from water leaks. My short term solution on the roof rust was Gorilla Tape to cover it....as grinding with a Dremel would have punched through. During this 2-3 month time period, I went back and forth about what to do. Sourced a tailgate for $800, and was about to buy it. Then I really spent some time with the truck, and with pad of paper. It really needed a new exhaust,and done right, everything from the manifolds back. I was looking at at least two new calipers, plus rotors and pads. It was about due for new tires. Basically, though, it was a rust bucket. Maybe emerging as the worst 2000 that I had seen. I had owned it since new, and had driven it all over the country with my wife, and both kids at various times. Keeping it wasn't a logical move.
I sold it in 15 minutes on Craigslist for $5K, with 100% full disclosure, to a guy who was going to part it out. Runs a body shop.
I then bought a beautiful, near mint 2003 with 92K miles in Denver. Had it very thoroughly inspected by a knowledgable friend....my son. Then had Christo Slee do the TB and related 90K service, and a pretty extensive baseline list of work for me, before flying on to pick it up. Had a rust proofing treatment, Corrosion Free, done just as soon as I arrived back in NE. I've had great luck with it. among other cars we have a 2002 Subie VDC Outback that looks almost new underneath. You redo it every year...I do it every six months.
I would have much preferred to have a 2000 that I drove to 350K+. The rust wasn't a problem until it leaked all around the windshield frame, and until I was told that replacing a newly cracked windshield was going to take a huge amount of cutting, welding and painting. Thousands.
So I bit the bullet, and bought exactly what I wanted. One owner car, private sale, very thorough maintenance history, originally from New Mexico. Never offroaded. Paid more than I would have for many 2005's and 2006's.....but I've very happy with it. Love it. It will need a new windshield soon {a bunch of nicks.....original glass, and western car}, and you can bet that this one will be done right, and done with factory OEM glass.
If yours doesn't leak, I'd just think about driving it. Once that rust leads to leaks, move on. If you think you can sell it for $8K, being honest with a buyer, I'd be hard pressed not to sell it, though, now. And, ah.....yep, you did say else where that you paid $500 for it. Maybe you'll get lucky again. Sounds like a big win, even as is.
My sister in law has had three Sequioas {all leased}. No LC, IMO. Just not a fan. Borrow one from your dealership's lot for a weekend.
Good luck. Just my $.02.
I sold it in 15 minutes on Craigslist for $5K, with 100% full disclosure, to a guy who was going to part it out. Runs a body shop.
I then bought a beautiful, near mint 2003 with 92K miles in Denver. Had it very thoroughly inspected by a knowledgable friend....my son. Then had Christo Slee do the TB and related 90K service, and a pretty extensive baseline list of work for me, before flying on to pick it up. Had a rust proofing treatment, Corrosion Free, done just as soon as I arrived back in NE. I've had great luck with it. among other cars we have a 2002 Subie VDC Outback that looks almost new underneath. You redo it every year...I do it every six months.
I would have much preferred to have a 2000 that I drove to 350K+. The rust wasn't a problem until it leaked all around the windshield frame, and until I was told that replacing a newly cracked windshield was going to take a huge amount of cutting, welding and painting. Thousands.
So I bit the bullet, and bought exactly what I wanted. One owner car, private sale, very thorough maintenance history, originally from New Mexico. Never offroaded. Paid more than I would have for many 2005's and 2006's.....but I've very happy with it. Love it. It will need a new windshield soon {a bunch of nicks.....original glass, and western car}, and you can bet that this one will be done right, and done with factory OEM glass.
If yours doesn't leak, I'd just think about driving it. Once that rust leads to leaks, move on. If you think you can sell it for $8K, being honest with a buyer, I'd be hard pressed not to sell it, though, now. And, ah.....yep, you did say else where that you paid $500 for it. Maybe you'll get lucky again. Sounds like a big win, even as is.
My sister in law has had three Sequioas {all leased}. No LC, IMO. Just not a fan. Borrow one from your dealership's lot for a weekend.
Good luck. Just my $.02.
Good reply Muleski. I agree on all points. I remember you and I chatting just as you were about to come out and pick up the LC and get the service done at Slee. Glad to hear it's still treating you right!
Whoa.....WTF! Run the living s*** out of that thing. End of story!